Welcome to Insider Out Travel, a blog about LGBT travel written by LGBT tourism professionals. Travel the globe and gain insight into the tourism industry (with a gay twist), brought to you by the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Something New About Sydney's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

The 32nd Annual Mardi Gras Parade steps off on Sat. Feb. 27, 2010 along Sydney's famed Oxford Street, and past the "Glamstand" full of gay and lesbian visitors and local veterans watching the over-the-top pageantry that has made the parade world-famous.

This year, the Mardi Gras party will not follow the parade at Oxford St. nightspots. Instead, it has been moved to the following Saturday night, with a week filled with even more boutique and extravagant activities.

One local operator, OnQ Event Management, has teamed up with IGLTA members Sofitel Hotel Sydney and Rainbow T0urism, to put together Mardi Gras Spring Fling 2010 (Feb. 27-Mar. 7) - a private tour for overseas visitors that includes local tour guides pampering and escorting guests to all Mardi Gras and Spring Fling events and activites.

One exclusive event will be a full-day gourmet luxury visit to vineyards in the very gay-welcoming Hunter Valley Wine Region. In fact, lesbian-owned Tempus Two will be hosting the group for a priavte lunch and wine pairing with the winemaker.

Be prepared to visit all of the Sydney icons, from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, to the Koala-full Zoo and Imperial Hotel of Priscilla fame. And the highlight besides the parade, party and gala Diva Show, just well may be the Bondi Beach Drag Races and after party.

Second tier might be posing nude with thousands of gay and lesbian for a new work called The Base by contemporary artist Spencer Tunick in one of his signature art installations on March 1st.